House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., said Friday that she “wouldn’t subscribe” to the Congressional Progressive Caucus’ March 1 deadline for a Senate vote on the “Build Back Better” legislation. “We will pass the measure when we have the votes to pass the law, and we will not give up,” The Hill stated. Pelosi made the remarks at San Francisco International Airport on Friday while expressing support for the recently passed $1.2 trillion infrastructure initiative. “We’re working on a number of bills, but the ‘Build Back Better’ is really important. I hope they’re correct. I don’t like any particular day.”
Pelosi called the March 1 deadline advocated by progressives in the House “an goal” during her speech at the airport, which is set to get roughly $49 million as part of the bipartisan infrastructure package signed by President Joe Biden earlier this year. Rep. Pramila Jayapal, D-Washington, called on the Senate on Thursday to approve the budget reconciliation measure, which includes several crucial Democratic and progressive agenda items, by March 1 before President Joe Biden delivers his annual State of the Union address.
The bill cleared the House in December but is being held up in the Senate by two Democratic senators. Senators Joe Manchin of West Virginia and Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona reject the almost $2 trillion measure, which contains expanded healthcare and childcare, as well as free college tuition and other climate-change-fighting provisions. To pass the Senate, the bill needs receive the support of all 48 Democrats and two independents, resulting in a 50-50 tie with Republicans who all oppose the plan. Vice President Kamala Harris may then vote to break the tie and send the bill to Biden for signing.
